New year, new setup for Coyle and Cassidy

The newly reconfigured Coyle and Cassidy High School welcomed sixth grade students to their new home on Tuesday, as administrators finished the final steps of preparing for integration of a middle school division within the building.

TAUNTON — The newly reconfigured Coyle and Cassidy High School welcomed sixth grade students to their new home on Tuesday, as administrators finished the final steps of preparing for integration of a middle school division within the building.

Sixth graders came to Coyle and Cassidy on Tuesday for their orientation, as the Catholic school starts its first year with a new middle school division, which was the result of a merger with Taunton Catholic Middle School. So far, there are more than 160 students signed up for the middle school division that includes sixth, seventh and eighth grades, which joins high school grades for a total of 600 students in the building this year, the school said.

“We are just so excited about our new addition,” said Coyle and Cassidy Principal Kathleen St. Laurent. “We had a tremendous summer planning for our new students. We’ve started today (Tuesday) with our grade six, and it couldn’t be going better. We are really excited about the year.”

The new middle school-age students will occupy a total of nine classrooms on the north side of the building, including a music class, said Coyle and Cassidy President Mary Pat Tranter. As part of the merger, there were “extensive renovations,” Tranter said, including a new middle school main office that was built in the north section of the building, next to the an entrance on the side of the building, which is being dedicated as a middle school-only entrance.

Tranter said the library was “completely redone.” Tranter said that ventilation in the new middle school section was improved and that plenty of painting work was done as well. The parking lots have also been modified to designate the north side entrance as a middle school parent pick-up location.

In addition to the Hamilton Street school building, Coyle and Cassidy is also using the former Holy Rosary Parish Center for three classrooms that are being renovated, which will be used by older students, Tranter said.

It took a massive effort to make the merger happen after the Fall River Diocese originally announced the change in February, following several months of community discussion, Tranter said.

“Since then, we have hit the ground running fast,” Tranter said. “It has just been a tremendous effort by the staff, faculty and administration at both schools, and the families, that we have really come together as one. We saw it this morning, totally seamless in terms of the sixth graders coming in and having a fantastic time.”

Seventh and eighth grade students at Coyle and Cassidy will come to school for orientation today. Thursday is the first full day of school for all divisions.

As part of the merger, Tranter said, “a couple” of teachers from Taunton Catholic Middle School were laid off. The merger decision came as enrollment was decreasing over the years, while tuition costs went up.

Page 2 of 2 - But Tranter said enrollment at Coyle and Cassidy is now increasing, and she believes they will need to hire some more teachers in the near future. Tranter said that the easing of concerns about the merger and confidence in the school’s administration is causing more families to enroll their children.

“We have increased registrations so we may be hiring,” Tranter said. “I think families are starting to understand this was well planned out and thought out, with input of parents, students and everybody. So I think confidence has built in the last few months. Each day we are having phone calls.”

Some of the sixth grade students originally from Taunton Catholic Middle School who were at Coyle and Cassidy on Tuesday for orientation said they were excited about the transition.

“I really like it,” said Nora Kearney, 11. “It’s really easy to find the classrooms and everything is so close, so we don’t have to walk too far.”

Gabby Sousa, a senior, was there as a mentor for the younger students.

“They already have that feeling of family and everyone is going to welcome them with open arms,” Sousa said. “I think it’s going to be a successful program and a great school year.”

The former Taunton Catholic Middle School building is now being used by Bristol Community College.

Corinne Merritt, vice principal for academic affairs, said that the merger allows eighth graders to pursue high school level courses, which then allows them to take more Advanced Placement courses in high school. Also, she said, “one of the most exciting results” of the merger is the possibilities of providing college level courses through Bristol Community College at the former TCMS building.

“Both spiritually and academically, we can offer so much more,” Merritt said.